From the SPD perspective, with the Kaiser gone, the German Revolution was complete in 1918. But to the Spartacists, there was still a real revolution to be won – worker’s government and socialism. The agonizing decisions leading up to the Uprising of 1919, concluding with the assassinations of revolutionary leaders Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemberg.
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Interwar 18 Germany pt1: The German Revolution of November 1918
The Kaiser abdicates. The Social Democratic Party arrives to power. Karl Liebknecht stands on a balcony and tells the workers: “The rule of capitalism, which turned Europe into a cemetery, is henceforward broken.” But this is just part 1 of 4.
Interwar 17: USA the wrap-up
A departure from our normal historical narration: Dave reacts to contemporary USA headlines and politics with a view to American Interwar history. A short review of the whole history of the USA, to wrap up our series on the Interwar US… before we return to form to cover Interwar Germany.
Interwar 16: The US Occupation of Haiti, 1915-1934
The sordid and criminal US occupation of Haiti 1915-1934 with resistance heroes like Charlemagne Peralte, occupiers like Smedley Butler, a young FDR who hoped he’d be remembered as a “Haiti man”… US racial obsessions and atrocities. And Haiti’s anomalous and scrupulous payment of the debts imposed on it, making it a paradise of American financial exploitation.
Interwar 15: Gunboat Diplomacy: Interwar USA in Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Costa Rica
A roundup of Interwar US imperialism in four Central American countries
Interwar 14: Sandino battles the Americans for Nicaragua, 1927-1933
We go way back, at first, to the rise and fall of the filibustering William Walker, who wanted to be king of Nicaragua. You’ll meet Smedley Butler as well, but this episode on Interwar Nicaragua focuses on the rebel leader who dared to fight the American occupation, Augusto Sandino, who fought from 1927-1933 and has inspired fighters ever since.
Interwar 13: America invades the Dominican Republic, 1916-1924
In the Interwar years America invaded many Central American and Caribbean countries. The major ones included Haiti, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. We start with the DR, 1916-1924, who nonetheless managed to get the Americans to withdraw.
Interwar 12 America: The Scopes Monkey Trial, Sacco & Vanzetti framed
A showdown over evolution at the Scopes Monkey Trial. A frame-up of Sacco and Vanzetti. A pair of Interwar trials define America in this period.
Interwar 11: The Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921
Back when we covered the US Civil War, we talked about how the US ultimately un-did the Reconstruction. But undoing the Reconstruction went on and on, and the Tulsa Race Massacre (formerly known as the Tulsa Race Riot) was a major moment of the destruction of a prosperous Black community. The history, the aftermath, the coverup – Dave talks about some of the effects on US politics a century later.
Interwar 10 America pt2: American Racism – Reservations, Black Labor, the KKK
Continuing our series on Interwar America including Indian Reservations, Black Labor, the Garveyite Movement, and the KKK.